2009 Blue Dragon Film Awards

On December 2, the 30th Blue Dragon Film Awards were held at KBS Hall in Yoido, Seoul, hosted by actors Kim Hye-soo and Lee Beom-soo.

Considering the recent slump in the Korean movie industry, it was a pretty good year for films, with several big hits breaking box office records, like Haeundae and Take Off, both of which amassed a number of nominations. It was also a good year for the smaller, indie movie, with awards being given to actors of Breathless, and both Kim Myung-min and Ha Ji-won pulling in top acting honors for their performances in My Love By My Side (aka Closer to Haeven).

Actress Jang Jin-young, who passed away this year from stomach cancer at the age of 35, was given a special award that honored her career in film, with roles in movies like 2001’s Sorum and 2003’s Singles.

I love Kim Min-hee‘s (Actresses) overall look. It’s glam, it’s elegant. It’s also reminiscent of the classical hanbok without being literal with the allusion.

Kim Ok-bin‘s (Thirst) bright fuchsia runs the risk of looking gaudy, but it’s lovely on her. Glad to see that she’s graduating from that early-uljjang tag into real actress these days. She’s pictured with her Thirst co-star Song Kang-ho.

Chun! Jung! Myung! (What’s Up Fox, Hansel and Gretel) Who else is thrilled to have him back from the army?? I know in most cases they say a man comes back from service with a newly mature look, but Chun looks as baby-faced as ever.

Ha Jung-woo followed one incredibly successful role (last year’s The Chaser) with another, in this year’s sports smash hit Take Off. He also showed up with his hair suddenly short.

Lee Min-ki sure has had a busy year with numerous film roles (A Million, Oishii Man), but by far the most successful was record-breaking disaster flick Haeundae. (Can’t wait to see him remaking Hong Kong noir!)

Kim Haneul (Level 7 Civil Servant) is usually reliably stylish on the red carpet (witness last year’s Blue Dragon Awards — and the arm candy didn’t hurt). But this one is a rare miss, I think. It washes her out and that burnt orange lipstick makes her look sickly.

Kim Hye-soo (Style) hosted the event with Lee Beom-soo (Hong Gil Dong’s Descendants). She’s got that pose — the one that says, “Yeah, I own you (and you like it)” — down pat.

Not sure what’s going on with the ruffly chest area, but the strips floating down the length of Sohn Ye-jin‘s (Into the White Night) dress create a nice airy effect.

Kim Min-joon (Friend, Our Legend) is looking a little unkempt (it’s the hair and five o’clock shadow), but the man can wear a suit.

I’m not feeling this dull pink on Sunwoo Sun (Queen of Housewives). It’s rather shapeless and boring.

Here’s a dress that looks dramatically different in various pictures. I didn’t like Han Ye-seul‘s (Will It Snow on Christmas) rose drapey number at first (there are a lot of dark shots that give it a faded pink tint), but it’s growing on me in the brighter photos. She’s doing that coy cutesy pose in almost all the pictures, though, which gets old fast.

“4-D” actress Choi Kang-hee (Aeja) looks cute and I actually like the dress… but not on her. Doesn’t it seem like it was made for a six-foot-tall model-giantess, and needed to be shortened to fit Choi Kang-hee’s smaller frame? A bubble skirt doesn’t work when it hits at the ankle, but I think it would’ve been adorable if it hit mid-calf (or higher) instead…

Kim Ji-suk‘s fusion-sageuk drama 2009 Hometown of Legends tanked this summer, but thankfully he was buoyed by Take Off.

You may recognize Kim In-kwon as manager Ma Hoon-yi of You’re Beautiful, but he’s here for his role in Haeundae. He shows some fans some love.

Jang Young-nam (Hero, Dal Ja’s Spring) is like comic actress Jung Soo-young in my mind, where both are gorgeous ladies, but what makes them really memorable isn’t their looks but the way they take on eccentric characters with a unique comic twist.

Jin Gu (Le Grand Chef 2) took home an acting award for Mother.

Jo Ahn‘s (Everybody Cha Cha Cha) chartreuse gown shows that a dress can look dramatically different on camera when you’ve got a bad photographer at the lens. (I’ve omitted those from the bunch.) I think these photos show off the color beautifully.

Kang So-ra (in the first two photos) is the new actress who got to kiss Yoo Seung-ho in Fourth Period Murder Mystery; she looks like she didn’t know whether to channel little girl or old lady and wound up as little old lady. On the other hand, fourteen-year-old Ju Da-young (Chuno, Into the White Night) shows off an adorable, youthful look.

Kang Ye-won (Haeundae) looks so pretty from the neck up that it’s a shame her dress doesn’t fit. I know it’s supposed to look asymmetrical, but it actually seems like someone took a dress five sizes too large and tied the extra material in a knot at her waist — you know, like we did in the ’80s with super-large T-shirts. (I KNOW I’m not the only one! *Looks at all children of the eighties expectantly*)

Kim Yoon-seok didn’t win for Turtle Runs, but 23-year-old Kim Kkot-bi did for Breathless, although it was shared with Park Bo-young.

Lee Shi-young (Loving You a Thousand Times) looks a little uncomfortable on the red carpet (nervous?), but I think she looks pretty in the flowy, Grecian number.

I hate that crinkly black dress on Oh Yeon-seo (Yeogogoedam: Suicide Pact) — it’s ugly in an aggressive way, in my opinion — but she absolutely wears it well. Look at that posture.

I love that the stars of last year’s hit comedy Speed Scandal — Park Bo-young, Cha Tae-hyun, and Wang Seok-hyun — came together! Park Bo-young looks a little like Big Bird, yeah, but she’s sweet and talented and if she wants to look like she’s about to burst into a drunken semblance of the cha-cha on a seniors’ cruise to Acapulco, well, that’s her prerogative.

Song Chang-eui had a dud of a drama in Cinderella Man, but he earned a nomination for his war film Boys Don’t Cry.

This dress just about ages Lee Chae-young (Wife’s Return) twenty years, which is a shame. Oh well, there will be other awards shows.

I like the silhouette, but not the design, of Yoon Jin-seo‘s (Return of Iljimae) red dress, but she looks lovely overall. Even if she must have skinned a Yeti to get that hairy shawl-rug.

Another lady who looks fantastic in a dress I dislike. Yoo Sun had a pretty big year with a No. 1 drama (in ratings for the year) as “Bokifer” of the Sons of Sol Pharmacy. The dress seems matronly for her, but at least it’s a huge step above that garish monstrosity she wore at the October PIFF opening red carpet.

It seems like it’s awfully late for people to be earning nominations for provocative period piece Portrait of a Beauty, but Chu Ja-hyun did.

December 2, 2009 at 2:59 PM

December 2, 2009 at 3:13 PM

UNREGISTERED

Ha Ji Won.... equals danger...

I am pretty sure I would be uncomfortable in her presence.

"Must not stare.... oh god, but what if I look like I am trying NOT to stare... I am such a freak... I should really stop staring at the ceiling... but If I look down she might think I am avoiding eye contact.... maybe she thinks I have a crick in my neck... FREAK, just say you are going to the bathroom and then run away!"

December 2, 2009 at 3:14 PM

UNREGISTERED

I love Ha Ji Won's style: modern and glamorous. She really has the perfect legs, doesn't she?

Is the Blue Dragon Film awards the equivalent of a Golden Globe or Oscar for the U.S.? There are several film award shows each year, can someone tell me the order of how prestigious the awards are? Thanks in advance!

December 2, 2009 at 3:32 PM

UNREGISTERED

"I am pretty sure I would be uncomfortable in her presence."

Question of the day: Did Ha Ji Won invent the Oppa Pout Wiggle, or did the Oppa Pout Wiggle invent Ha Ji Won? (Certainly no actor in the history of the universe has worked the pout better than Ha Ji Won. If Death came along, she could pout well enough so that Death would wait another 5 minutes while she fixes her hair. And Mr. Reaper would hold her purse.)

December 2, 2009 at 3:53 PM

UNREGISTERED

Thanks for posting these! I love looking at the attire at Korean awards show ceremonies and comparing them to ours here in the U.S. For one thing, it seems that shawls are in vogue, judging fromall the fur and fuzz present. I've also noticed that young teens tend to dress a lot younger and more youthful than teens of the same age in the U.S.

December 2, 2009 at 4:31 PM

And as a sidenote to JB (and know that I would rather die than admit this in person lol), I am one of the fashion victims of the 80s. Not contented with just big shirts, I did EVERYTHING BIG. Hair, accessories.....omg please excuse me while I go burn photos.

December 2, 2009 at 4:41 PM

UNREGISTERED

Chun! Jung! Myung! can't wait to see his comeback drama/movie......I absolutely love him....and you're right.....he looks as baby-faced as ever....
in fact I think tt Go Soo also look kinda younger and much thinner lately after his military service....

December 2, 2009 at 4:43 PM

UNREGISTERED

The first 3 ladies looked very good!
Esp Kim Ok Bin for me... I liked how she pulled off the shiny-pinkish gown with an air of elegance...and her hairstyle is to die for...if only I could look that good in short hair like hers...>.<

December 2, 2009 at 4:52 PM

December 2, 2009 at 5:06 PM

UNREGISTERED

They look so great, I love Lee Shi Young - she's so pretty in that dress, her prettiness sometimes makes me question the naturality of it since of teh common Korean plastic craze. Though I still love many plastics in the Hallyuworld.

Btw, when are the korean drama award shows for SBS, MBC, and KBS. Was MBC's around this time last year? I am excited fro those shows sinec I mostly watch dramas.

December 2, 2009 at 5:15 PM

UNREGISTERED

I can't even *begin* to tell you how excited I am that Chun Jung Myung is out of the army!!! I JUST finished watching him in What's Up Fox?, but fell in love with him almost immediately. I'm already eager to see what he chooses for his come back project!!!!

December 2, 2009 at 5:44 PM

UNREGISTERED

It distracted me that Park Bo-young was holding her purse in front of her in every pic; if you feel the dress is too short, just wear it longer. ^^ Or, better yet, wear something else? :)

I think in American awards shows, people are a lot safer on the red carpet; they hold their fashion close and don't stray unless twenty others have already. Maybe that's an unfair assessment, but remember the Grecian look? Huge bows on abdomens and shoulders was about as risky as anyone got, otherwise they wore a Grecian cut dress. A few in Grecian is fine, Grecian is pretty and classic. But everyone? So boring!

Marion Cotillard got huge props for wearing a dress that stood out at the Academy awards. The one that looked like fish scales at the bottom. It's pretty, but if wearing that makes you a risk-taker, than Hollywood has a huge fashion problem.

That said, there are a lot of misses here, too, but I love that the effort was made, yanno? It certainly doesn't look like everyone is wearing a version of the same dress.

December 2, 2009 at 7:22 PM

UNREGISTERED

Oh I love awards season! Some of my favs from the list:

Ha Ji-won looked lovely in that ensemble.
Chun Jung Myung – like most here, can’t wait to see him in either big or small screen. I think I’d be happy just to see him in a CF. lol
Lee Min-ki? Wow! In that angle I thought it was Lee Philip or Kim Jae Wook.
Kim Haneul’s dress is pretty in design, but it would’ve been nice if it was a different color.
Kim Min-joon looks too hot in a 3 piece.
Wang Seok-hyun – too adorable for words!

December 3, 2009 at 12:09 AM

December 3, 2009 at 1:13 AM

UNREGISTERED

@21 tinyviolin

Yup I noticed that too, Park Bo-young seemed to be so conscious of potentially revealing herself down under that it drew attention there instead. If not I would have enjoyed the pictures of the Speedy Scandal trio more :(

December 3, 2009 at 2:26 PM

UNREGISTERED

Go Soo and Son Ye Jin are so cute . They always being spot by the TV camera. What a lovely couple from White Night . I love them so much. Go Soo is really handsome guy. yeh agree . He even looks younger and thinner after the Military service.

December 4, 2009 at 9:21 PM

UNREGISTERED

I fan-girl giggled upon seeing Chun Jung Myung back!!! looking so fresh & baby-faced...but I'm more excited about GONG YOO's release from the military stint, come Dec.8!!! been counting down the days for 2 years now...can't believe that we, from the Gong Yoo Lover group have only 3 more days of waiting!!! JB, hope you can feature his "comeback" !!! Thanks once again!!!

December 6, 2009 at 12:42 AM

UNREGISTERED

another happy shout for CHUN! JUNG! MYUNG!! isn't he looking good. i love him with a head full of hair like that. he's an awesome actor and i hope he continues with diverse roles (of course, a bit of fan-service wouldn't hurt...)